Those left out will get Bangladesh nationality

People of the enclaves who were left out of the joint census in 2011 would automatically become Bangladeshi citizens after the exchange of enclaves on July 31.

Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat Habibur Rahman yesterday made the announcement and said they had so far found at least 135 residents in 59 Indian enclaves in the district, who could not have their names registered during the just-concluded survey since their names were not on the list made in the 2011 census.

Sources in the district administration believe the number of such people would be more than 450.

To implement the Land Boundary Agreement, Bangladesh and India launched a 10-day joint survey on July 6 in 162 enclaves -- 111 in Bangladesh and 51 in India.

The surveyors this time followed the 2011 joint census. The new names were of the children who were born after 2011 and the women who got married to enclave people in the last four years.

The people who were left out of the previous list  are now thronging the control room of the district administration, saying no numerator came to list their names.

Mamina Begum, 46, a widow in Bhitarkuti enclave of Kulaghat union in Lalmonirhat Sadar, was one of them.

She said she along with her sons and daughters could not get their names registered during the joint survey as they were not on the list of the 2011 census.

"We were at a relative's house during the census [in 2011]. But we are enclave people by birth," she added.

Fulmati Rani, 68, another widow of the same enclave, said, "I have been living in the enclave since my marriage at the age of 16. But I was out of the census in 2011 as I was taking treatment for my illness."

Like Mamina and Fulmati, Ekatun Nesa, Jolekha Bewa, Ansar Ali and many others of the same enclave said they were enclave people but their names were not listed in the census or in the survey.

The district administration has, meanwhile, announced that it will allow the enclave people to change their nationality choice once again till July 31.

They will have to submit an application to the deputy commissioner by 5:00pm on the said date, according to a notice circulated in the enclaves.

Two people -- Mahbubur Rahman, 25, and Rashedul Islam, 36 -- submitted applications for changing their nationality choice on Sunday afternoon.

"I wanted to become an Indian national and filled the form likewise. But none of my family members want to be Indian, so I have submitted the application again," said Mahbubur Rahman, a resident of Gotmari enclave.

Rashedul Islam of the same enclave said it was a wrong decision that he opted for Indian citizenship.

Mahbubur Rahman, executive officer (UNO) of Hatibandha upazila, said nobody would get a chance to change their decision after July 31.

Sources in the DC office said the joint survey team had found the total population to be 9,437 in 59 Indian enclaves in three upazilas in Lalmonirhat. Of them, 200 people had their names listed to become Indian nationals.